Apparatus for handling concrete pipes



July 15 1924.

c. MERlyVE-THER APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CONCRETE PIPES Filed March 28.

Zlnvcwl'oz Colem an Nerf wefher Patented July 1924 NKTE COLEMAN MERIWETHER, OE LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR- 'lO PETER C. REIILY,

OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CONCRETE PIPES.

Application filed March 28, 1921. Serial No. 456,298.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, COLEMAN MERI- WETHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for Handling Concrete Pipes, of which the following is a specification.

In handling concrete pipe sections, which frequently. weigh many hundreds of pounds, and in turning them from vertical to horizontal position and vice versa, it is difficult to get a proper hold on the pipe sections for handling them.

It is the object of my present invention to provide a device for gripping such sections,

which device will be applicable to sections of different diameters, and which will en able the sections to be handled easily and expeditiously.

My present invention is a development and improvement on that shown in Patent No. 933,093, granted to John C. Mitchell and myself on September 7, 1909. In such prior patent the gripping band was of invariable length and was suitable for only one size of pipe section.

According to my present invention, the gripping band is made of sections, which may be inserted or removed as desired to vary the length of the band.

The accompanying drawing illustrates my invention: Figs. 1 and 2are side and front elevations respectively of an upright pipe sec tion with my improved handling device in position thereon ready to lift it; Fig. 3 is a view showing the pipe section lifted and tilted; Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the pipe at one end of the gripping band, showing'the construction of the band; Fig. 5 is an elevation of one end of the gripping band, showing the pulleycarrying end member and the beginning of the series of removable sections, interconnected by their pivot pins; and Fig. 6 is an elevation of one of the removable sections by itself.

it from upright to horizontal position, I provide a gripping band which passes somewhat more than half way around the circumference of the pipe section 10. This gripping-band is composed of two end members being held in place bycotter pins 16. The

number of sections13 is made sufficient so that the entire gripping band extends slightly more than 180 around the pipe, as is indicated by having the end section 11 to the left of the axis in Fig. 1. The sections of the band will fit the outer surface of the pipe section 10 closely only for a given size, but the sections are relatively short and will fit sufficiently close for either larger or smaller pipes. A chain 17 hung by its ends on a cross bar 18 carried by a suitable crane not shown) passes around the pulley 12 in the two end members 11, the ends of the chain between such pulleys and the cross bar 18 passing up from the pulleys, and the bight of the chain .between the twopulleys passing around that part of the circumference of the pipe section 10 which the gripping band 1113 does not encircle. Thus the bight of thechain 17 and the gripping band together completely encircle the pipe section, and as the cross bar 18 is lifted the grippingband and the bight of the chain are tightened on the pipe and firmly grip it. The center of gravity of the upright pipe section is slightly offset from the lifting line of the chain 17, as is indicated in Fig. 1, so that as the pipe is lifted it swings toward the position shown in Fig. 3. The amount by which it swings, and the force of its swinging, depend on how high the gripping band is with respect to the center of gravity of the pipe section; and if this height is properly chosen, and the gripping band is made of proper length, the center of gravity is offset just suiiiciently from the line through the two pulleys 12 that the pipe may be swung axially to any desired position. This length of the gripping band may be varied as conditions require, by changing the numirer of sections 13, thus making the device suitable for pipes of any size. The articulated construction of the gripping band also assists in its gripping action on the pipe.

I claim as my invention:

1, in an apparatus for handling concrete pipe sections, the combination of an articulated band arranged to extend part Way around the pipe, and a chain the bight of Which extends the remainder of the Way around such pipe and inovaloly co-operates with the ends of said band to tighten the latter, the ends of said chain extending upward to a lifting device, said band comprising a series of sections reinovaloly hinged together so that the length of a hand may be varied as required.

2. In an apparatus for handling concrete pipe sections, the combination of a gripping band comprising a series of sections hinged together, the hinge joints being separable 1,5oi,sse

so that the nrunher of sections may be Varied, the end members of said hand being provided with hooks and a chain 00*OPQTMHHQ With said hool-cs to provide two upwardiy extending lifting cliain-parts and a chain hight which 'Witl'i said gripping band constitutes a coni-piete encircling device for a concrete pipe section.

3. In an apparatus for handling concrete pipe sections, a gripping band comprising a plurality of sections hinged together with the end sections hook-shaped to co-operate with the chain, the hinge joints being separa'loie so that the number of sections may he varied to vary the length of the band.

In witness whereof I, Gonnimn Minnwn'riinn, have hereunto set in hand at Louisville, Kentucky, this third day of March, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and 40 twenty-one. I

COLEMAN MERIWETI-IER. 

